Chicago Fire Soccer Club to Hold Second Annual Practice in the Community

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that for the second consecutive year the club will hold a Practice in the Community Presented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System in Chicago’s Historic Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen at Benito Juarez Community Academy (1450 – 1510 W. Cermak, Chicago, IL 60608) on Sunday, August 5 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT. Chicago Fire First Team training is scheduled to take place at 11:00 a.m. CT and is subject to change.

“We’re pleased to return to Benito Juarez Community Academy for a second straight year,” said Chicago Fire President Julian Posada. “Holding an open training session provides us with a unique way to use soccer to engage the Chicagoland community and provide access to our players and our club. The open practice strengthens our ties to the community and helps the Fire to be Chicago’s team.”

The Practice in the Community is presented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, the leaders in the delivery of patient care, education and research. UIH has the vision to create, nurture and sustain long-term relationships with the communities they serve.

“The opportunity to host a Chicago Fire open training in the Pilsen neighborhood is a unique opportunity for us to help the Fire make a difference off the field,” said Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia, vice president for health affairs, University of Illinois. “The primary focus of our efforts is community education designed to promote health and wellness. This Practice in the Community allows us to strengthen the bonds with the communities that we serve.”

The Fire will venture away from their soccer-specific home of TOYOTA PARK to Practice in the Community, bringing the entire Fire team to Chicago’s South Side for a full training session that is open to the general public. Following the practice, the Fire will interact with the students of Benito Juarez Community Academy and members of the local community by signing autographs and talking soccer.

“We’re happy to welcome back the Fire for a day of soccer in our community,” said Benito Juarez Community Academy Principal Juan Carlos Ocon. “This event will bring the Juarez family together with the Chicago Fire family. Our soccer teams, coaches and families are all excited about a day with the Chicago Fire.”